Category: Around the world

Russia may well be the last country that says, “We’re white and that’s the way we’re staying.” This gets me to thinking, how can Putin put that situation to his most disruptive advantage? You just know Putin is wondering the same thing, if he hasn’t already settled on an answer to that question.

Here is one possible idea: A special whites-only program to encourage immigration from the U.S. to Russia. This could include special help in finding jobs and housing as well as Russian literacy classes. You think I am nuts? Sure, I might be. But consider these tidbits: Russia is the largest country in the world by area, but ranks only ninth in population. They have lots of space. That population rank is misleading though, as Russia is one of the few countries with a declining population. Its population has dropped by an estimated 2.3 million people in just the last three years.

Putin could even enhance the program by giving special preferences to would-be immigrants with specific knowledge and skills that would help the Russian economy. People with backgrounds in areas like computer technology and fossil fuel exploration and drilling might find themselves receiving additional signing bonuses and accelerated paths to full citizenship. There are many ways the Russians could sweeten the pot and drain away some skills and brains from the U.S. It might be quite easy to make a bunch of white supremacist Americans feel quite happy and comfortable in comparatively lily-white Russia.

Of course, this is pure speculation. However, as the U.S. population becomes ever less white, Trump’s racist base may find themselves embracing Putin and Russia even more than Trump has.

Climate change deniers love to equate weather with climate. Some may be ignorant or stupid regarding the difference, some are no doubt being deliberate in their statements in an attempt to confuse the public. Whatever the case, there is a fresh stream of hot denial air blowing because of the extreme cold weather happening across so much of North America the last several days.

So, I wonder how the climate change deniers will explain what is happening in Australia these days? If you haven’t noticed, temperatures in the Sydney area are the highest in almost 80 years, hitting 117℉. There are power outages and bush fires. People are advised to stay indoors because of elevated ozone in the ground-level atmosphere. Climate change deniers won’t be mentioning any of this since it doesn’t fit their false narrative.

Remember weather is not climate. Weather is the immediate snapshot of what is happening right now in a locality. Climate is about the long-term big picture over a broad area or the entire planet. Changes in the climate can result in wild swings in weather patterns, as we are currently seeing in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.